The heat is on this winter for Halton residents! » Housing » 24dash.com

The heat is on for customers of Halton Housing Trust, as the area’s largest provider of social housing launches an affordable warmth campaign – Keeping the Heat on this winter!

Soaring energy costs and reports that some pensioners were not turning the heating on because of fears that they would not be able to afford to pay the bill prompted the Trust to take positive action.

Targeting older and vulnerable customers in the run up to winter, the Trust will be holding a series of open events at its three sheltered housing schemes in Runcorn and Widnes.

The “Keeping the heat on” team will provide energy efficiency advice to residents – providing simple tips on how to economically heat and insulate their homes, with the aim of saving the pennies while keeping warm.

Nick Atkin, Chief Executive of Halton Housing Trust, said: “It’s heartbreaking to think that some of our more vulnerable customers are sitting there shivering at home, afraid to turn the heating on because they are frightened that they will not be able to afford to pay the bill.

“Heating costs have risen to unacceptably high levels. In response, the Trust has developed a strategy to help our older and vulnerable customers stay out of fuel poverty because it’s these people who have been hit the hardest.”

As well as providing energy efficiency advice, the Trust will be handing out a winter warmth pack which contains low energy light bulbs, an energy efficiency leaflet, a room thermometer, blanket, hot water bottle and information of where to get further advice.

The Trust is committed to helping all its customers lower the cost of heating their homes. As part of its improvement programme, over £600,000 has already been spent fitting loft insulation to 4,000 homes, saving these households up to £205 a year in heating bills and around one tonne of CO2 per year.

Loft insulation acts as a blanket, trapping rising heat from the house below, and without it, the Energy Saving Trust explains, households could lose as much as 15% of heating costs through the roof.

Energy efficient boilers have also been fitted to homes and talks are underway with Ebico a not-for-profit energy provider. It is the Trust’s aim to find an energy supplier who will heat homes at a more affordable rate.

Nick added: “As a social landlord we have a responsibility to do everything that we can to ensure that we get our customers the best deal to help them heat their home.

“Our customers are already facing a squeeze on their finances as a result of the credit crunch. We want to make sure that they stay out of fuel poverty and are able to keep the heat on to say warm and well.”

Open events are being held at sheltered housing schemes during November and December and Trust staff will be contacting those older and vulnerable customers who do not live in one of these schemes. They will be sent a winter warmth pack.

If you are a Trust customer and you are concerned about the rising cost of heating your home please contact 0151 510 5204 for information and advice.